The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-01-06
NONE BUT THE BRAVE.

NONE BUT THE BRAVE.
1.-The man marry must be real he
ro. could never endure plain, prosy,
humdrum creature" flushed out Laurel
Mayne gaily, tossing two white enve-
lopes on the centre table hastily.
Quiet, puzzled Aunt Elaine Talmadge
looked up at the bright and spirited
creature before her, laid aside her clus-
ter of tucked hand-work. wiped her
spectacles and glanced at the conspicu-
Gus missives with an odd smile.
Both epistles were proposals of mar
riage. One was from a wealthy, hand
some young merchant in an adjoining
city; the other from her fathers engin-
eer.
What presumptionr' cried Laurel,
wrathfully, pouting her pretty lips. "A
common workman daring to aspire
to the hand of his employers daugh-
ter!'
You must admit. Laurel. dear, you
rather encouraged Clarke Hawthorne's
attentions. although, as you say. he is
only a workman in your fathers mill.
having an aged mother dependent on
him for support, He will make his
mark in the future, feel certain"
Il encouraged himP' responded Laur-
ell in open-eyed wonder, her crimson lips
curling scornfully, an angry light deep
ening in the sparkling brown eyes
when l CHANGED to meet the man l
always spoke courteously, even pleasant
ly-"
''And talked to him by the hour when
ever you went down to the mill," said
Aunt Elaine gravely.
That was only TO pass away time,
auntie dear. Why, girl would die of
ennui without someone TO talk to in this
quiet village"
You never stopped to remember,
Laurel, it was dangerous to the piece of
mind of young. impulsive, warm-heart-
ed fellow like Clarke, to be thrown, al
most constantly in pretty young girls
society for nearly two years without fall
ing desperately in love with her. If
you should ask my opinion which of the
two you should actually choose, my
preference would be Clarke Hawthorne.
tFor if you married Arthur Lennox, and
his wealth should take wings, what
would become of you? There was some
thing in his dandified manner that /
always disliked."
Aunt Elaine Talmadge rose as she ut
tered the fatal, prophetic words.
She was a quaint, kind, spinster who
rarely ventured an adverse opinion.
No wonder her willful niece gazed
upon her in surprise rs she jerked out
the words meaningly and sharply gath
cred up her sewing. and hastily left the
room, slamming the door after her.
1t was no hard matter to decide which
of the two lovers pretty Laurel Mayne
preferred.
Without second glance the work
mans letter found its way into the bed
of glowing Goals that burned and flick
cred in the CRATE.
Over the other missive-a gushing,
closely written epistle-Laurel sat
dreaming, rs girls will. of the handsome
hero who had lately penned it.
arthur will come tomorrow for his
answer" she murmured softly.
One glance into that rosy. dimpled
face would tell the reader what that an
swer was to be.
..And as for Clarke Hawthorne" she
continued ruefully, II shall laugh him
out of the matter, scornfully, as if it
were a joke. What would Arthur say.
with his fastidious tastes and set ideas
of equality. if he ever dreamed this man
had dared"
Laurel! Laurel! Where in the
world are you? have been looking
everywhere for you"
Laurel had Just time to press a kiss
upon the envelope and thrust it into
her pocket as her mother hurriedly en-
tered the room.
'.Here is telegram from your father,
DEAR" she said. saying he cannot re-
turn home from Ashford tonight. MIR.
Hampton. your fathers partner. expects
your father to night; SO YOU must run
down to the mill with this telegram.
Laurel; and make haste, for he will
wait till dusk, fear"
There was no one else to send, while
Laurel had no other alternative than to
tie OH her straw hat, pick up the tele-
gram, and whisk down the path to the
mill.
The great golden sun had set behind
the fieecy clouds that skirted the west
ern horizon, giving promise of u delight
full June evening.
"If Arthur were only here to enjoy
this pretty sunset" she sighed aloud.
Arthur is here" cried voice at her
elbow.
And turning. she saw, with travelling
satchel in hand, the hero of these
fanciful air-castles standing before her,
smiling.
II thought you would not be here
till tomorrow exclaimed Laurel, blush
ing rosily.,
Il could not remain away until to-
morrow" answered the young man gal
". viii you give me an answer TO my
F.! letter now, Laurel, darlingP"
Woman-like. the young girl replied
shyly:
er and answer you tomorrow.
| In after years, when she looked back
| with a shudder upon that evening, she
knew it must have been fate that prompt
ed that answer.
Arthur Lennox smiled satisfactorily tC
himself. :,
He was quite sure the answer woulC
not be MOP And, after all, one day
~was not great length of time to wait.
II am so glad l met Arthur" Lure
was thinking. He shall go to the mil
with me, and prevent possible con
versation with presumptuous Clark
Hawthorne"
Just as Laurel had surmised, the frs
person she met. upon entering the dool
of the mill, was Clarke Hawthorne, a
handsome, genial young fellow. good
looking, even in the work-clothes h
wore.
A glad, happy light broke over hi
face as he caught sight of his employer
daughter, only to die away again upol
beholding her companion. while he re
spectfully touched his cap as they pasSe'
him on the stairway, toward the priyat
office beyond.
Owing to repairing in the main office
small room in the rear, accessible oni
by narrow, unprotected stairs. had bee
| net anart for the Transaction of pEiYai